Monday, April 22, 2013

Travel To Peru For A Luxury Vacation

By Jessie Drolet


Every year, three million visitors from all over the world travel to Peru. Each one of them will have fascinating memories to take back, because Peru tops the charts as South America's most mystical and exotic tourist destination. A lot of international visitors restrict themselves to Machu Picchu and an Amazon jungle cruise, with Lima as the gateway. This would be just plain wrong, because Peru is a massive country with a vast collection of attractions strewn across diverse landscapes.

It should also be mentioned that being Latin and exotic doesn't automatically make this trip a third-world experience without civilized comforts. On the contrary, this is such a well-worn path that planned luxury tours can take visitors all over the country without once having to give up the cocoon of luxury provided by air-conditioned coaches and five-star hotels. The only thing visitors need to worry about is which tour package to pick.

Lima, the capital of Peru and the main gateway in and out of the country, is going to be a part of the itinerary for most international travelers. It also happens to be the country's most popular destination Pacific Coast destination. Mega-malls, nightlife clubs and colonial architecture vie for tourists' attention with the warm beach sand and the sand dunes in the desert.

Lima is usually the starting and end point for most luxury tours. The hard part is deciding how much of the rest of the country can be packed into the middle. The easiest option is a simple one week tour that includes Lima, Machu Picchu and the Amazon jungle.

To add a touch of spice, throw in some adventure such as Inca Trail trekking or rafting in the Urubamba River rapids. A visit to the Pacaya Samiria reserve is bound to be a memorable aspect of this trip. This is a massive reserve set deep within the Amazon jungle, filled with 130 mammal species including the famed pink dolphin. There are 330 bird species in the reserve, but they don't really know much about the huge number of amphibious and reptilian creatures that exist in the shadows.

This is just the core of the tour, and there are so many more fascinating destinations within easy reach that can easily be included. For example, the incredible Nazca Lines (six hours from Lima) are on the way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Arequipa and Colca Canyon are likewise possible detours for tourists heading out of Lima or coming back.

Travelers already in Cuzco will find it easier to continue the Highlands tour into the Puno region and visit Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. All this will easily require a week to 10 days, even if the actual amount of travel is reduced with some smart travel planning. However, the whole trip will be a lot more enjoyable for those who consider these journeys between destinations as a part of the holiday experience.

Luxury travel to Peru and within the country does not necessarily have to remain sanitized all the time. A bit of contact with the local culture, food and people will add some spice and fond memories to the trip. It's a good thing for visitors to look back on happy hours spent in restaurants, clubs and beaches with new Peruvian friends as rather more interesting than time spent poking around in the citadel of Machu Picchu, which is no doubt an awesome sight too.




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